Traffic police in Cumberland County are utilizing "speed drones" alongside roads throughout the county that will anonymously collecting data in order to determine the highest concentration of speeding.

The drones, which do not fly, but are trailer-like machines stationed on the ground along roads, will calculate drivers' speed as well as store other data anonymously to a hard drive.

The other data collected includes day of the week and time of day, according to Lt. James Myers, station commander at the State Police Bridgeton Barracks.

The data can later be retrieved and analyzed by police.

“It will help traffic officers utilize data, giving them insight to where more vehicles are speeding, and what day and time the most speeding occurs,” Myers said. “If we need to, we can change patrol patterns in a particular area and be more effective in deploying our resources.”

The drones will also flash drivers' speed as they drive by, just like conventional speed indicators as a reminder to drivers.

Without the data, traffic cops typically use their judgement and experience to determine where the most speeding is occurring.

Myers said drones have been set up along roads in Hopewell Township, Stow Creek and Bridgeton. However, the drones will constantly be relocated to different spots, as they are being utilized by a number of different stations throughout the county.

Myers emphasized that any and all data collected is completely anonymous.